Transition into Vegan

The following article is from a Farm Sanctuary Campaign:

http://vegforlife.org/howto.htm

http://www.farmsanctuary.org/

Making the Transition:

People adopt a vegetarian lifestyle for many reasons, including the desire to treat animals with compassion, protect the environment and better overall health. Today, making the transition from an animal-dependent lifestyle to a compassionate, vegan way of life has never been easier. Meat substitutes and soy "dairy" foods have turned up at virtually every supermarket. Whole-foods groceries and co-operatives with even wider arrays of healthful plant, soy and dairy-free foods are within reach of most Americans. Nearly any restaurant, from fine dining to fast food, can prepare a flavorful, vegan meal.

Maru Angarita
My blog is http://maruangaritavegan.blogspot.com/

Maru and Humane Society of the US help Defend Animal Rights with replyforall and funds from our sponsors.

Water Awareness

Wishing you a very happy and prosperous New Year 2009!

I am glad that Andrew Weil, PhD published this information concerning water on www.drweil.com. I hope that everyone thinks twice before plunging into the swimming pools!

Are You Showering in Chlorine?

Each Sunday in January we present healthy home tips - enjoy, and pass them along to friends and loved ones.Most Americans - up to 80 percent - drink water that has chlorine in it. While many people now use water filters in conjunction with their faucets for drinking water, many do not consider the amount of chlorine absorbed through a shower. Skin absorbs water; if that water is chlorinated, some chlorine is absorbed as well. To combat the effects of chlorinated water (which may include an increased risk of cancer and reproductive problems), purchase a water filter for your showerhead. Carbon-based filters and KDF filters made of copper and zinc both help to remove chlorine.

Maru Angarita
My blog is http://maruangaritavegan.blogspot.com/

5 Ways to Prevent a Hangover

5 Ways to Prevent a Hangover from Andrew Weil, PhD
www.drweil.com

If you are planning on attending a New Year's celebration, you may want to take a few precautions to lessen your chances of starting the New Year with an alcohol-related hangover. The surefire way to keep a clear head is not to drink at all, and to be the designated driver for your friends who do.

Alcohol is a strong toxin to both the liver and the nervous system, and it irritates the upper digestive tract and urinary system as well. If you do drink, remember:

Moderation is the best way to avoid hangovers - make sure to pace yourself.

Eat food if you have more than a drink or two.

Avoid dehydration (and cut down on alcohol intake) by drinking as much water as possible while you're drinking alcohol.

Take a B-complex vitamin supplement plus extra thiamine (100 mg) to counter the B-vitamin depletion caused by alcohol.

Choose beverages that are "cleaner." Some distilled beverages are rich in substances called congeners - toxic impurities that can greatly add to your woes. Bourbon, rum, and cognac are particularly dirty, while vodka, which is just pure alcohol and water, is the cleanest.

Maru Angarita
My blog is http://maruangaritavegan.blogspot.com/

Why Do Women Feel Cold More Than Men Do?

Why Do Women Feel Cold More Than Men Do?
www.drweil.com/drw/u/WBL02119/Why-Do-Women-Feel-Cold-More-Than-Men-Do.html

The proper setting for the thermostat can spark fierce disputes among couples, and while there are exceptions, typically, women complain of cold temperatures more often than men do.
Ironically, this is probably because women are better at surviving extreme cold than are men. Mark Newton, a clothing-industry consultant and researcher at the University of Portsmouth, explains that women have a more evenly distributed fat layer and can more effectively pull all their blood back to their core organs in cold temperatures. While this fosters survival in sub-freezing conditions, it also means less blood flows to their hands and feet, and as a result they feel cold at higher temperatures than men typically do.
There is no simple answer to this disparity; it simply suggests that in cold weather, men and women should be more willing to compromise in the thermostat battle, as their differences are determined genetically - a fact no amount of arguing will alter.

Relationships and Aging
From decreased desire to changing roles, aging has its own issues when it comes to relationships. Learn more about all types of relationships as we age – start your free trial of Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging today

Maru Angarita
My blog is: http://maruangaritavegan.blogspot.com/

Ultimate Vitamin Cocktail for Healthy Joints

http://www.realage.com/ct/eat-smart/food-and-nutrition/tip/7656

RealAge experts Michael Roizen, MD, and Mehmet Oz, MD, suggest this nifty little combo of nutrients for healthier joints. Make sure you’re getting enough magnesium and calcium as well as vitamins C, D3, and E. This grouping may have the power to minimize inflammation and joint damage.

Just for Joints
Getting your vitamins and minerals from food is best, but if you’re an eat-on-the-run junkie, you may want to add a supplement to your day to make sure you’re getting enough of these joint boosters. Just ask your doctor first about safe doses and potential drug interactions if you’re taking other medications. Use this tool to look up the best food sources for these and other key vitamins and minerals.

More to the StoryWhether you want to prevent arthritis, or stop yours from getting worse, vitamins and minerals are but one key step to keeping joints healthy. Here are a few others:

Know your joints.
Could you already have arthritis? And is it managed properly? Get a clue with this online assessment.

Drop it. The extra weight, that is. It’s just about the single most important thing you can do to reduce wear and tear on your joints. Visit the RealAge More to Lose Center for extra weight-loss help.

Soothe ’em. There’s no reason to live with achy, inflamed, painful joints. The sooner you start treating, the earlier you can start slowing the damage. See if an over-the-counter pain medication might help you.

See the doc. If over-the-counter stuff doesn’t do the trick, find out what other options your doctor can offer. Learn about prescription disease-modifying drugs for osteoarthritis.

Maru Angarita
My blog is http://maruangaritavegan.blogspot.com/

Disease Fighting Food

The mystery of how a compound in broccoli and cabbage fights cancer has been solved, scientists announced Tuesday. And the discovery may lead to the development of anti-cancer drugs with fewer side effects.

The compound, indole-3-carbinol (I3C), diminishes the activity of an enzyme in rapidly advancing breast cancer, University of California, Berkeley, researchers said. The compound is already undergoing clinical trials in humans after it was found to stop the growth of breast and prostate cancer cells in mice. Please click on the link below:

http://news.aol.com/health/article/broccoli-compound-fights-late-stage/266966?icid=200100397x1214262030x1200956233

Maru Angarita
My blog is: http://maruangaritavegan.blogspot.com/

7 Ways to Prevent Cancer: Nutrition by Andrew Weil, PhD

The following article can be found at www.drweil.com

A healthy diet can help the body in its efforts to heal itself, and in some cases, particular foods can strengthen the immune system and lessen the risks of serious illness. To help reduce your risk of some types of cancer, try the following:

Avoid polyunsaturated vegetable oils, margarine, vegetable shortening, all partially hydrogenated oils, and all foods that might contain trans-fatty acids (such as deep-fried foods).
Increase omega-3 fatty acids by eating more cold water oily fish, freshly ground flaxseeds, and walnuts.

Reduce consumption of animal foods and try to replace them with vegetable proteins such as whole soy products.

Use hormone-free, organically produced products whenever possible.
Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Eat shiitake, enokitake, maitake, and oyster mushrooms frequently.
Drink green tea daily.
Don’t miss next Sunday’s Daily Tip, which covers supplements and cancer.

Love

Maru Angarita
My blog is: http://maruangaritavegan.blogspot.com/